Friday, September 28, 2012

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund enjoys the support of a special group of volunteers: Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies, while Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers, allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving our goals.

Stuart & Lisa Levine

Please join me in thanking Stuart & Lisa Levine for their dedication to the law enforcement profession and their continued support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.This month we are proud to recognize Stuart & Lisa Levine of Long Island, New York. Stuart is a former West Palm Beach (FL) Deputy Sheriff who is now the owner of the Zellman Group, a firm established on a deep foundation in loss prevention, audit, and retail and food & beverage operations. On April 24, 2012 Stuart and Lisa hosted “Honor at the Castle,” a gala at the OHEKA Castle in Huntington, NY. The event was emceed by Royal Pains star Mark Feuerstein and honored fallen ATF Special Agent John Capano. It was a huge success, attended by over 250 supporters and officers from the New York and New Jersey area. Stuart & Lisa support the Memorial Fund and Museum by participating in many of our events. They joined us at the New York Mets, New York Liberty, and New York Islanders Law Enforcement Appreciation Events over the past several months. The Levines also introduced up-and-coming recording artist “Range” to the Memorial Fund. Range recently wrote and recorded Lay it Down, a tribute to law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Lay it Down is available on iTunes and Range has agreed to donate proceeds from the song to the Museum campaign.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

This past June, Maryland State Trooper David Avila was making a routine traffic stop along Interstate 70 in Washington County, MD. Suddenly, the dashcam inside his vehicle captured a tractor-trailer side swiping Trooper Avila and his vehicle.

Trooper Avila was lucky to survive and is currently undergoing physical therapy for his injuries. “Sometimes I look at it, and it just doesn’t seem like there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “But I’m able to walk and doing a lot of physical therapy to get back.”

Throughout history, more than 5,000 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in traffic-related incidents, including automobile, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, as well as instances in which officers were struck and killed by another vehicle while they were outside their patrol vehicles.

Here are a few easy steps you can take to make our roadways safer for officers and others, and to help decrease officer injuries and fatalities. Please remember these every time you're out on the road. Do your part to keep our peace officers safe.

Give officers room on the roadway. When you see or hear a police or other emergency vehicle with its lights and siren activated, slow down, move to the right and stop if possible. Once the emergency vehicle passes, do not follow the vehicle too closely - give it plenty of room.

Move over. When see you a police or other emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway, slow down and, if possible, safely move one additional lane away from the stop. Forty-eight states have now enacted so-called "Move Over" laws, and violators can be ticketed.

Never drive on the shoulder of a highway. This is not only illegal but also dangerous, as police and other emergency vehicles often use the shoulder to get to traffic crashes and other incidents.

This blog is part of a series highlighting the risks law enforcement officers face on the road, as part of an innovative partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to promote law enforcement officer safety on the roadways.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Today, at an intimate gathering held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, Memorial Fund staff and friends honored the 72 American peace officers killed tragically on September 11, 2001.

Memorial Fund Chairman & CEO Craig Floyd welcomed guests and shared some personal remembrances of that tragic day 11 years ago. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. delivered some remarks before leading in reading the names of all 72 officers killed on the deadliest day in law enforcement history.

"These heroic men and women answered the highest calling of their profession, placing the safety of others above their own,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “Put simply, their selfless actions saved countless lives. And—especially this morning—as we lift up their stories, we also reaffirm the values that have always been the hallmark of America's law enforcement community, and honor the contributions—and the ongoing work—of those who give so much to keep us safe.”

Here are two articles that reflect on the tragic events of 9/11, written by Memorial Fund Chairman & CEO Craig W. Floyd. These articles were published in American Police Beat Magazine, one month after the attacks, and one year later, respectively: